Sample packaging machine



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BY E THEIfE Z/VZ Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE"SAMPLE PACKAGING MACHINE Fred H. Thompson, Iowa Park, and Wayland D.Keith, Wichita Falls, Tex.; said Keith assignor to said ThompsonApplication December 11, 1945, Serial No. 634,383

Sample machines from which samples of earth 7 formation were taken fromthe drilling fluid as it flows from the Well during the drilling processhave been used heretofore. However, it has been the usual practice toaccumulate these samples in a box, which samples were removed from timeto time and placed in bags which were marked according to the depth ofthe well at the begin ning of the sample and that when the sample wascomplete. This manner of packaging samples necessitated leaving thederrick floor, going to the slush pit at any time during the day ornight when a sample was to be taken, removing the sample from the boxand placing it in a sack and labeling it. Needless to say, the taking ofsamples at proper intervals and the correct labeling thereof wasfrequently neglected or carelessly done by inefficient or inexperiencedworkmen. Samples thus taken and packaged did not give accurateinformation as to the depth of certain formation or other information tobe gained by the proper taking and labeling of samples.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a samplecatching and packaging machine having a multiplicity of sample receivingelements with sample receptacles attached thereto, which machine may bemoved into a position to place the sample receiving receptacle in properposition to receive a sample of earth formation, and again moved tobring another of said sample receiving receptacles into receivingposition, at the proper time, and which machine may be controlled fromthe derrick floor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sample catching andpackaging device which is simple in operation and construction, andwhich may be readily operated with a minimum of time and effort.

The foregoing objects and others that will become apparent as thedescription proceeds are accomplished as follows:

In the present invention the sample catching and packaging device,journaled for rotary movement about a vertical axis, has a multiplicityof sample receiving openings in the top thereof, which openings may bepositioned, one after another, to register with the discharge opening ofa sample machine. From each opening depends a chute-like arrangement towhich is attached a ple machine may be directed through the opening,down the chute and into the sample receptacle. When the receptacle isfilled, or when the sample machine has discharged formation for apredetermined period of time, the sample catch ing and packaging devicemay be moved to place another of the multiple sample receiving openingsin position to receive a sample. When all the receptacles have receivedthe desired amount of material, they may be removed from the device,properly labeled and then other receptacles secured in place on thedevice. In this manner a number of sacks or receptacles can be removedat one time with practically the same effort that was formerly requiredfor the taking and packaging of one sample. Normally samples arerequired to be taken every ten feet of well drilling, therefore, using aten unit sample receptacle, a hundred feet of drilling may beaccomplished before it is necessary for the sample receiving bags to bechanged.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional type shale separator havinga sample machine attached thereto, and with the present inventionpositioned to receive samples therefrom; with an alternate position ofthe operating lever shown in dashed outline;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a shale separator showing asample machine connected thereto and with the samples being directedinto the sample catching and packaging device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-? of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the invention removed from themachine and showing an alternate position of the operating lever indashed outline; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the invention showing samplereceptacles in place on the depending chutes.

With more detailed reference to the drawing the numeral [designates aconventional type of shale separator to which is fitted a sample machine2 having an inlet 3 and a discharge spout 4.

A sample catching and packaging device generally designated as 5 has abase plate 6, preferably made of plate steel but other suitable materialmay be used. A vertical post I is secured to the base 6 and extendsupwardly therefrom to receive a rotatable element 8 which is journaledthereon for rotation. A plate Iii is disposed at the top of therotatable element 8 and has'a series of funnel shaped openings II'therein which converge inwardly and downwardly in a chutelikearrangement. The chute II preferably has a cylindrical neck I2 at thelower end thereof, which neck I2 receives the sample receptacle I3, suchas a sack, which may be secured thereto by means of a spring clip I4which engages an annular corrugation I5 positioned within the length ofthe neck portion I2.

It is to be understood that while a sack or bag is usually applied tothe neck I2 as a container for the sample, the term is to be con-'strued to cover any suitable form of container such as a box, plasticcylinder or the like.

The rotatable element 8 is supported by the tubular member I6 resting onplate IT.

The outer periphery of the plate Ill is serrated or notched on the'edgeI8, which notches are adapted to be engaged by a pawl I9 so that theelement 8 may be selectively moved step'by step, that is, notch bynotch, upon the operation of a lever pivotally mounted on post I.

A spring 2| holds the lever 20 against post 22, as shown in full outlinein Figs. 1 and 4. The lever 29 is adapted to work through an arcuatemovement between posts 22 and 23 so that the pawl will move therotatable member 8 to rotate it the proper distance to bring a newreceptacle into position beneath the discharge spout 4 of the samplemachine. The lever 20 has a cord 24 attached thereto, of a convenientlength, and by pulling the cord 24 the lever 20 is actuated to causepawl I9 to engage one of the notches in the edge I8 of plate I0. Aspring 25 urges the pawl I9 inward against notched edge I8 of the plateID to hold said pawl in engagement with one of said notches until thelever is again actuated to rotate the plate and cause the pawl to engageanother of said notches.

Theslots 26 and 21 are provided within the base plate 6 to receive posts22 and 23 respectively so as to adjust the arcuate movement of the lever20, and the stopping position of the funnel shaped sample receivingopenings H. A spring 28 is secured to post 23 and is adapted to engagenotched edge I8 so as to frictionally hold the member 8 againstaccidental rotation.

Preparatory to operating the sample catching and packaging device, thebase 6 is secured in place and a sample receptacle I3 fitted on each ofthe necks I2 and secured thereto by means of :and discharged throughspout 4.

The cord 24, attached to the lever 20 extends to the derrick floorwithin easy reach of the operator and may be pulled at any desired timeor at predetermined intervals. The cord 24 may be manually operated soas to rotate a new receptable I2 into position to receive a sample ofearth formation.

When the rotatable member has been rotated one revolution so that eachsample receptacle I3 is filled, said receptacles may be removed from thedevice, properly labeled for identification, and other receptaclesfitted onto necks I2 and secured in place by spring clips I4 and theoperation repeated.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a sample receiving and packaging machine for use with a samplemachine, a base having an upstanding post, a rotatable element journaledon said post for rotation relative thereto, said rotatable elementhaving a multiplicity'of sample receiving chutes opening onto the uppersurface thereof and each of said chutes having a sample containerremovably secured to the lower end thereof, said rotatable elementhaving a notched periphery, a pawl for selectively engaging saidnotches, lever means for actuating said pawl, resilient return means forreturning said lever means to starting position, adjusting posts forregulating the rotation of said rotatable member to properly positionsaid sample receiving chutes in alignment with the discharge of saidsample machine, means for actuating said lever means from a place remotefrom the sample receiving machine. k

2 In a sample receiving and packaging 'machine for usewith a samplemachine, a base having an upstanding post secured thereto, a rotatableelement journaled on said post for rotation relative to said base, saidrotatable element having a multiplicity of sample receiving openingstherein and each of said openings having a depending inwardly convergingchute, a sample container secured to the lower end of each chuteand'spring clip means to removably secure said container to said chute,said rotatable element having a notched periphery, a pawl forselectively engaging said notches, a lever connected to said pivot formoving said rotatable element, adjustment posts for adjusting therotation of said rotatable element by said lever-so as to selectivelyposition each'of said sample receiving chutes in position to receive asample of earth formation from the discharge of said sample machine,means for operating said leverfrom a point remote from the samplereceiving machine, and means for locking said rotatable element untilactuated through another arcuate movement by said lever.

3. In a sample packaging machine a base, a member rotatably mounted onan axle'on said base for rotation about said axle, saidmember carrying aplurality of radially and circumferentially spaced depending chutes,said rotatable member having an index means corresponding to each chute,an index engaging means for moving said rotatable member through anarcuate distance to selectively position one of said depending chutes inpositionto receive a sample to be packaged, said chutes being adapted toremovably receive a sample container over the lower end thereof, meansremote from said sample packaging machine for actuating said indexengaging means to move said rotatable member through said arcuatedistance, stop means for selectively limiting the movement of saidrotatable member, resilient return means for returning said indexengaging means to the starting position.

4. In an earth formation sample receiving and packaging machine for usewith a sample machine on a shale separator, a base, a rotatable elementjournaled on an axle on said base, said rotatable element beingrotatable 'on said axle, said rotatable element having a multiplicity ofsample receiving chutes opening onto the upper surface thereof and eachof said chutes adapted to have a sample container removably secured overthe lower end thereof, said rotatable element having circumferentiallyspaced notched elements spaced radially outward from said axle, an 0REFERENCES CITED element for selectively engaging said notches, a Thefollowing references are of record in the mechanical element foractuiating said notch enfile of this patent;

gaging element, resilient re urn means for returning said mechanicalactuating element to the 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS starting position,stops for regulating the rotation Number Name Date of said rotatablemember to properly position said 200,342 Relph Feb. 12, 1878 samplereceiving chutes in alignment with the 480,654 Bigelow Aug. 9, 1892discharge of said sample machine, means for ac- 791,472 Kaiser June 6,1905 tuating said mechanical actuating element from a 10 793,014Mitchell et al June 20, 1905 place remote from the sample receivingmachine. 1,101,568 Roberts June 30, 1914 FRED H. THOMPSON. 1,640,000Kendall Aug. 23, 1927 WAYLAND D. KEITH.

